Cogent's end-to-end optical network consists of multiple metropolitan IP-over-WDM fiber rings located in Cogent's major markets throughout the United States and Europe. Cogent currently has a presence in over 110 markets throughout North America and Europe. Cogent's network provides each building or data center with up to 80 Gbit/s of dedicated bandwidth. Layer 3 edge routers in each building are connected to Cisco Layer 3 Terabit core routers over two diverse optical paths. These core routers are tied together via an international backbone network consisting of multiple 10 Gbit/s DWDM optical links. With a currently implemented capacity of 80-200 Gbit/s, Cogent's international IP network is the largest in the world and is scalable to a total capacity of over one Terabit per second.




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Today, using light to communicate provides nearly unlimited opportunities. Nothing can match the speed and capacity obtained by channeling multiplexed light waves through hair-thin strands of glass. In the past, fiber optic technology was prohibitively expensive. Cogent's radical economics have changed that.

Cogent Communications brings optical Internet access to your business for a fraction of the cost you're probably paying now for slower copper! With its own network, Cogent has 100% fiber both along its backbone and throughout its Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs). More importantly, Cogent takes its fiber the "last mile" into your building!

The Cogent international backbone is designed to operate at multiple OC-192s (currently reaching a massive 18 OC-192s), the MAN rings at OC-48. Our network uses ring redundancy and protected optronics to ensure survivability and availability of service.

The MAN rings on Cogent's network are provisioned with a finite number of buildings. This configuration enables Cogent to offer each customer a fully dedicated, non-oversubscribed 100 Mbps connection that is not shared with anyone else. This approach represents a singular opportunity in the market place.

Cogent uses the most advanced optical networking technology and smart networking configurations to ensure you receive the highest performance levels. With optical networking's promise of speed and capacity and Cogent's commitment to quality, we're unleashing the Internet's true potential.